It's well-known TV lore that gay actor Robert Reed, who played Brady Bunch father Mike Brady, kept his sexuality a secret for years. However, his on-screen daughter Susan Olsen, who played youngest daughter Cindy, has used his wonderful parenting to help fuel debate on same-sex marriage in the US.

It's well-known TV lore that gay actor Robert Reed, who played Brady Bunch father Mike Brady, kept his sexuality a secret for years. However, his on-screen daughter Susan Olsen, who played youngest daughter Cindy, has used his wonderful parenting to help fuel debate on same-sex marriage in the US.

When Robert died of HIV complications at 59 in 1992, the actor had already struggled against the close-minded public perception of his sexuality. In fact, Susan says Robert, "who bottle fed puppies when he wasn’t quarrelling with the heads of networks" raised her "as much as my biological parents did".

Susan put together a touching tribute to Robert on her Facebook page with the adorable image below:

If Robert's sexuality had been widely accepted, Susan contends, he might still be alive. Image: Susan Olsen/Facebook.

She added that she felt society's unwillingness to accept same-sex relationships ultimately led to his death.

"I can also say that being gay killed him," Susan wrote. "Because it was so taboo, he could never make peace with himself. He never allowed himself to have a genuine love. He was forever taunted by his own disdain for the natural inclinations that he was BORN WITH."

"Bob was a family man. Had he been allowed to form a relationship with another man, he would have been the best husband ever and might still be alive."

While controversy continues to surround same-sex marriage both in the US and on Australian shores, it's nice to see stars coming out (and coming out!) to support gay rights.

Get a few more insights into what happened on set from Brady mum Florence Henderson below.